CONCERN about the potency of Warwickshire’s bowling surfaced for the second time in successive days as their championship clash with Northamptonshire began at Edgbaston.

On Wednesday, the Bears’ bowlers were thumped to all parts in an astonishing barrage which almost brought the Steelbacks back from the dead in a Pro40 fixture.

Yesterday, in a different format, the personnel changed – but again alarm bells sounded.

Northamptonshire stood at 292 for five at the end of a rain-truncated opening day on which only one Warwickshire bowler excelled.

Ian Salisbury, 38 years and 199 days young, came on to bowl at quarter to one with Northants close to 100 without loss.

He struck with his eighth ball and proceeded to wheel away until half past four, by which time his figures were 22-4-79-4.

The leg-spinner has garnered far more spectacular figures in his long career but rarely shouldered so much responsibility for his team in a day’s cricket. The Bears’ seamers, including the returning Chris Martin and Chris Woakes, managed just one wicket between them – and that from a long hop obligingly ladled into the hands of deep mid-wicket.

The lack of bowling venom is betrayed by four of Northamptonshire’s top five reaching at least 48 – and then only perishing through carelessness.

David Sales, lbw to Salisbury’s googly, fell to a good one but the other batsmen departed kicking themselves at squandering a chance to score big runs.

O’Brien hoiked Salisbury to deep mid-wicket and Peters inexplicably lifted his back foot to the penultimate ball before the interval.

Salisbury had three for nine in 5.1 overs when he dismissed Sales, when Northamptonshire were wobbling at 129 for three.

But Rob White batted beautifully in a stand of 83 in 18 overs with Rikki Wessels before, again, two wickets fell in quickfire and careless fashion.

White struck 54 out of 73 in boundaries but became over-confident and top-edged a sweep to short fine leg. Wessels then saw his second six, over a very short Hollies-side boundary, looming when Neil Carter sent down a long hop but succeeded only in top-edging to Navdeep Poonia at deep mid-wicket.